Ignition control



V. F. MIKOLASEK.

IGNITION CONTROL.

APPLICATION FlLE JUNE e, |919.

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V. F. MIKOLASEK.

IGNITION CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1919.

Patented Nov. 29,l 1921.

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'VENCESLALUS F. MIKOLASEK, OF LANKIN, NORTH DAKOTA.

IGNITION CONTROL.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented' NOV. 29 1921.

Application med-June 6, 1919. Serial No. 302,228.

To all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, VENCESLAUS F. MiiioLAsiiii, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lankin, in the county of lrValsh and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Itmprovemeiits in Ignition Control, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide means within the View of the operator or driver of an automobile or motor car or similar vehicle by which tlie condition of the ignitionsystem of the engine may be determined at any and all times, and further by means of which tests may be made to determine the precise location of any defeet or interruption of the proper working of any ofthe elements of the ignition system so as to serve as a guide in applying proper remedies without the disadvantages and loss of time incident to searching for the cause under the conditions which at present prevail in connection with motor driven vehicles where from four to. six or more spark plugs are employed in connection with the explosion cylinders, and where an interruption in the proper operation of the mechanism may occur by reason of aground or disconnection or break of an insulation by the accumulation of carbon or soot in any one or more of the several branches or secondaries of the circuit without any outward evidence ordinarily visible to the operator of the location of the trouble.

With these general andother related objects` in view as will appear in the course of the following description the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an ignition system including an ignition indicator and control embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan or face view of the indicator or control apparatus with the face plate or protecting shell partly broken Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a distributer or timer 'forming another element of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a reverse view of the timer on the plane indicated on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

i Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slightly modiied form of indicator or control.

Fig: 7 is a longitudinal view of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail View of one of the spark gap terminals.

In the diagrammatic View of the system as shown in Fig. 1 the ignition indicator or control is represented at 10 with the circuit wires leading as at l1 to the spark plugs 12 and to the grounds and at 13 to the timer shown at 14 of which the'rotary element 15 is actuated from the engine through the shaft 16, as shown in Fig. 4, to

the spindle 17. The primary generator circuit 18 including the primary induction coil 19 is in connection with the binding post 20 having the brush 21 yfor engagement with contacts 22 corresponding in number with the spark plug circuits 13, and elements of the latter are respectively connected with binding posts 23 having brushes 24 for engagement successively with the contact 25 also carried by the rotary disk 15, said contact being included in the secondary circuit 26 including the secondary induction coil 27 and through a binding post 28 and cap 29 supported by an insulating ball 30 which provides a current intensifying spark gap. The annular element carried by the disk and includingl the contacts 22 is grounded as shown at 31. This distributing or timing mechanism, however, forms no essential part of the present invention which is directed to the ignition control and indicator and is illustrated merely as means of showing the relation between the ignition control and the system with which it coperates in a practical installation of the invention.

In the form of control shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 the circuit elementsl 11 and 13 represented by suitable cables are introduced into a casing 32 through openings 33 in the insulated base 34 thereof and are connected by binding screws 35 and 36 with spark gap terminals 37 which are preferably disposed as shown in Fig. 3 in angular relation with an interval between the extremities suiiicient to be readily Visible through an inspection opening 38 fitted with a glass or yother transparent closure 39 so ast be in plain view of the driver or operator of the vehicle from the driving seat, and While these spark gaps in the spark plug circuits of the system serve as means for intensifying or raising the voltage of the current they indicate to the operator Whether or not the several` circuitsv are in proper working condition. A partial interruption of a' circuit due, for example,

to the accumulation of carbon upon the able opening in the insulated base thereof is a. grounding cable 40 connected with an insulated spindle 41 upon which are mounted the pivotal or swinging closures 42 respectively provided With telescopically arranged,- sleeves or spindles 43 having terminal thumb nuts 44 which are located exteriorly of the casing and Within reach of the operator of the machine. B turning any one of these circuit closures rom its normal position in contact with insulation 45 lining the box or receptacle into engagement with one of the spark gap terminals, the circuit of Which said terminal forms an element Will be grounded and obviously the cutting out of the corresponding spark plug Will indicate orally to the operator Whether or not that particular spark plug is involved inthe current interruption which.' he is endeavoring to detect. If the sound of the engine is not affected by the grounding of a particular circuit, it will be evident that the plug belonging to the circuit so grounded is not operating Whereas when the grounding of a circuit changes the sound or serves to produce another missing cylinder, it is evident that the plug of that circuit is operating and requires no attention. In this way the circuit including the missing plug can be readily ascertained.

In other Words, ifthe driver observes that there is no spark at a particular gap it is an indication that the circuit to which said gap relates is broken, or that there is a disconnected Wire between the indicator or control and the distributer and Aif the cable is disconnected between the indicator or control and the cylinders, it Will be noticed that the spark from the dead circuit is crossing to the nearest spark gap at intervals, or when there is an accumulation of current to enable it to make the jump. In case of a smutted or short circuited spark plug, the spark at the corresponding gap in the control box Will be of a different color from thel others, as for example of a relatively dull color and under any circumstances the detection of the circuit in which there is trouble can be accomplished bythe successive testing of the circuits by `bringing the circuit closures successivelyin operation therewith to successively ground sald circuit. If the circuit which is rounded lincludes a clean and operative spar rplugthere will be apparent at once a slowing down of the engine? whereas the grounding 'of va short circuited plug will not involveA any change in the speed of the engine., f

The terminals representing' the spark gaps and the circuit yclosing mechanism related therewith are inclosedas above noted in a casing which comprises 'in connection with the base 34 a removable cover 46 the interior of which, however, is preferably ventilated as by air inlet openings shown at 47.

In the modified construction of control illustrated in- Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive the casing 48 is provided with a transparent cover 49 through which the. spark gap terminals 50 may be observed by the driver, said terminals being arranged at their extremities over openings 51 formed in the bottom of the casing which is rovided with air circulation openings 52. he wire terminals 53 are connected with the spark gap terminals by means of binding posts 54. o

An important advanta e of the apparatus described resides in the fact that the operation of the several elements of the ignition circuit is Within the range of observation of the driver at all times, and the necessary test to discover the reason for any defect in or interruption of the current relating to the different elements can be made While the engine is in operation and the car in 'movement, so that if it is necessary to remedyv the trouble the operator may proceed thereto Without any loss of time incident to the ordinarymeans of locating disarrangements of this character.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A control or indicator for ignition circuits having s ark gap terminals arranged in the spark p ug including elements of the ignition circuit and independently movable circuit closers arranged in a grounding circuit for respective engagement with corresponding elements of said spark gap terminals and having independent operating means arranged injuxtaposed' co-axial relation.

2. A control or indicator/for i ition circuits having spark gap termina s arranged in the spark plug including elements of said circuit and a plurality of pivotal circuit closers arranged in a common grounding circuit and havingrespective paths of movement in which corresponding spark gap terminals are arranged, said circuit closers having independent operating means arranged in juxtaposed co-axial relation.

3. A control or indicator for ignition circuits having spark gap terminals arranged in the spark plug including elements of said circuit, and independently movable pivotally mounted circuit closers included in a grounding circuit, corresponding spark gap terminals being arranged respectively in the paths of movement of said circuit closers, and the circuit closers having telescopically arranged stems terminating in juxtaposed co-aXial heads.

4. A control or indicator for ignition circuits having a casing, spark gap terminals arranged in the spark plug including elements of the ignition circuit, a grounding circuit, a spindle common to the grounding circuit, and circuit closures having telescoping spindles mounted upon said first named spindle and provided exteriorly of the casing With means whereby said circuit closures may be independently movable for engagement with the spark gap terminals of the respective elements of the ignition circuit.

In testimon whereof I aix my si nature.

VENC SLAUS F. MIK'OLA EK. 

